The Support of a Walking Cane

Today I tried out my new walking cane in public for the first time. It wasn't nearly as awkward or nerve wracking as I thought it would be. I think this is because I needed it. I still lost my balance a bunch of times of course, but with the cane it was less of a strain.

I bought the cane last week. During my annual check-up with my neurosurgeon, he told me to consider that the worsened symptoms of my Dandy Walker Syndrome may never improve. I wasn't devastated. I had suspected this for over two years.

Patients, Arm Yourselves

In an appointment with my neurologist last week, he told me that I probably have thoracic outlet syndrome. Basically, because of my body's structure, the bones in my chest press against nerves, arteries and/or veins. This explains the weakness and numbness I've been getting in my arms. The telltale sign? When my neurologist lifted my arm vertically, my pulse disappeared.

Why am I writing this? Well, I wanted to vent about my frustration with my neurologist, with many doctors. They're all nice enough, but some have a habit of being less than helpful once tests reveal I'm stable and there's nothing they can do/needs to be done. For example at this latest appointment, as with previous ones, he said my TOS wasn't a problem, surgery wasn't necessary, "it's not a disease." He talked about it like I had come to him complaining about a stubbed toe, then assured me like I had been concerned the toe would fall off.

Well, I'm often uncomfortable and in pain; sometimes my hand gets so weak it's hard to press the buttons on my iPod; folding laundry, flipping eggs is often hard... I could go on. But "it's not a disease" and it's not disabling me, so it's not really an issue right?  Unless of course someone takes my pulse while I'm asleep with my arms above my head and then, feeling nothing, declares me dead.